The reason I designed this discharger are many, however I will list a typical example.A modeler charges his batteies for 14 hrs, then goes to the field for a fly.He then rests for a week, then charges his batteries again for 14 hrs and flies again.The third time, he repeats the procedure, then wonders why his aircraft has a major argument with the runway.The problem with this method is that he is rechargeing a battey pack which after the first week, is in an unknown state of charge.The second and subsquent chargings are grossly overcharging the batteries.When they are full, ni-cad batteries begin gassing off the electrolyte, and being a sealed battery, the electrolyte (unlike a car battery), can never be topped up.Over-charging the batteries seriously degrades them, and reduces their capacity drastically.

For all your questions, tips, and suggestions, contact the author of this circuit, John Nooyen in Australia.